Combined sifting and mixing device



March 26, 1929. A. o. DRAKE COMBINED SIFTING AND MIXING DEVICE Filed July 24, 1928.

Patented film. 26, 1929.

Ui'lE STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREW 0. DRAKE, 01' DENVER, COLORADO.

COMBINED SIFTIITG AND MIIXllIIlG DEVICE.

Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to improvements in devices for sifting and mixing hour and other ingredients.

in cooking and baking it is oftentimes desirable to very intimately mix the flour with the baking powder or soda, and it has been found that this can be most thoroughly accomplished by passing; the flour several times through a sieve. It has also been found that when flour sifted several times in succession that it becomes very much lighter than. when it is sifted only once and this flu'l'l'y condition of the flour is very desirable in the production. of cakes and biscuits.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device by means of which flour can be conveniently sifted a }i)llll'lllity of times so that any ingredients with which it mixed will become thoroughly intermingled with the llour and so that ie flour will assume a fluffy stale and hue; become better adapted for fancy cakes and pastry.

in order to more clearly describe this invention so that its construction and mode of operation can be readily understood, reference will be had to the accompanying d rawiug; in which the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on line 1., Fig. 2;

liigf. 2 is a section taken on line E22, Fig. .1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rotatable screen.

In the drawing; numeral 1 represents one of the vertical sides of the device, and numeral 2 the other side. The vertical sides are formed from sheets of metal such as tin or aluminum and have their opposite edges curved in the arc of a circle between points 3 and 4. From point 8 upwardly the edge is preferably curved in the manner indicated by numeral 5 until it becomes tai'igent to the straight portion (3. The same shape prevails below the points l. The side members 1 and 2 are connected by sides 7 and 8 which are also formed of sheet metal and which are bent so as to conform to the shape of sides 1 and 2, and are secured to the latter by means of solder. The central arcuate portions between points 3 and 4 curved on a radius R. The points 3 of sides 7 and 8 are connected by means of a curved section of screen which has been indicated by reference numeral 9, and in a similar man- 1928. Serial No. 295,076.

nor the points l are connected by means of a screen 10. The screens 9 and 10 are curved on a radius R minus a, which is slightly less than radius R.

Located. within the circular chamber formed between screens 9 and. 10 and the arcuate walls is a rotary sci en comprising an axle or core 11 which is provided at one end with a trunnion 12. This trunnion extends through an opei'iing in the wall 2 and is enclosed by means of a cap 13 soldered to the outer surface of this wall. The other endv of core 11 is provided with a trunnion .llthat has attached to its outer end. a crank 15, by means of which the core 11 can be rotated. Secured to the core 11 and extending radially therefrom are wire frames 16. These frames carry wire screens 17 of the proper mesh. These screens have their i11- ner edges secured to the axle or core 11 by solder and. the width of these screens is such that the outer edges of the screens will come in contact with. the inner surface of screens 9 and 10, but will. be spaced a very short distance from the inner si'lrface of the arcuate side portions between points 3 and 4. When the rotary screen .ilh'istrated in Fig. 3 is rotated, the outer edges of the screens will cng as'e screens 9 and l0 as above intimated and Will. facilitate the passage of the flour through these screens. It is, of course, possible to dispense with screen 9 in which case the space between the radial screens 17 will fill up with liour which will be carried across the upper surface of screen 10. When screen. 9 omitted the mixing action will not be as effective and the device will not be as desirable but will still be as serviceable as the ordinary sieves.

Let us now assume that the upper compartment which has been designated by A is filled with flour and that the rotary screen is turned. by means of crank 15. Flour will 110W pass through screen 9 and will fall onto the radial screens of the rotor. Some of the flour will pass through these radial screens and onto the screen below and when the flour reaches screen 10, a portion of it will pass through this screen, but the greatest part of the flour will continue to travel with the rotary screen and will pass many times through the different radial screens before it passes into compartment B. It is evident that any hour that is sifted by means of this sieve will be sifted many times in succession and if it is mixed With other ingredients, the mixture will become very intimate during the rotation of the rotary screen. It is evident, therefore, that by means of this simple sieve construction that a multiple screening effect and a very thorough mixing is obtained in a simple and convenient manner.

Having described my invention What claimed as new is:

1. A combined mixer and sitter comprising a container open at both ends, a cylindrical chamber between the ends of said container, wire screens separating the cylindrical chamber from the open ends and a rotar sieve located within the cylindrical cham er. 7 V

2. A combined mixer and sifter comprising an open ended container of substantially rectangular cross section, said container having a substantially cylindrical chamber formed in part by arcuate partitions of wire screen which separate the interior of the partition from the end portions of the con: tainer, a rotatable screening device located within the cylindrical chamber, said device having a plurality of radial screens and means for rotating said device.

3. A combined mixer and sitter comprising, in combination, an elongated container of substantially rectangular cross section, said container being provided intermediate its ends with a cylindrical chamber, the interior of said chamber being separated from the ends of the container by means of arcuate wire screens forming portions of the wall of the cylindrical chamber, a rotary screening device located within the cylindrical chamber, said device having a plurality oi? radial screens and means for rotating the screening device.

4. A device of the class described comprising a container open at both ends, said container having a chamber located bctwcen the open ends, the two opposite sides of the chamber being formed of portions curved outwardly about a common axis, the bottom of the chamber being formed by a section of wire screen curved about the same axis as the sides and having the same radius of curvature as the sides and a rotary sieve lo cated in the chamber, said sieve having a plurality of sieves extending radially from its axis of rotation.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

ANDRElV O. DRAKE. 

